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The formation of the GNU saw the cabinet expand from 30 to 32 Ministers and from 36 to 43 Deputy Ministers. Salaries, staff, and related perks for newly appointed Ministers and Deputy Ministers alone will increase cabinet’s budget by R239 million each year, an outrageous financial burden placed on already overburdened taxpayers. 

Ministers are public servants, not royalty, and must live as such. An ActionSA-led government would implement a lean, effective cabinet of no more than 20 Ministers, with all Deputy Minister positions abolished and ministerial perks drastically curtailed.  

Data Source: Parliamentary replies 

The devastation caused by three decades of ANC cadre deployment—peaking during the State Capture era under President Jacob Zuma—is infuriating. Systemic corruption across all spheres of government has crippled service delivery, eroded public trust, and diverted billions away from essential services. 

ActionSA tracks corruption using Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which compiles expert and business assessments of corruption in the public sector. This measure provides a consistent, global benchmark. ActionSA believes South Africa should not merely aim for incremental improvements—it should strive to be the least corrupt country in Africa. 

Data Source: Transparency International 

We must avoid a continuation of old habits within this new government of national unity, such as the reliance on costly and extravagant travel arrangements despite the mounting socio-economic challenges faced by ordinary South Africans. Under the guise of official duties, taxpayer money is being drained to fund what appears to be lavish travel expenditure.  

ActionSA maintains that transparency in government spending is essential to restore public trust. This metric – which will track Ministries’ travel expenditure and other perks over time – is part of our broader effort to hold officials accountable and to shed light on excessive and wasteful expenditure. When millions of South Africans are unemployed, and essential services remain underfunded, every cent of public money must be spent prudently. 

Data Source: Parliamentary replies, Annual reports 

The GNU has committed to pursuing rapid,inclusive and sustainable economic growth.By tracking the annual GDP growth rate, wecan evaluate the government’s economic reforms,fiscal strategy, and infrastructure investment.To bring South Africa in line with developing country and Sub-Saharan African peers,ActionSA demands as ourminimum benchmark annual GDP growth of 3%, while 4% will bedeemedgood, and 5% excellent, by 2029. 

DataSource:StatsSA 

Since 1994, South Africa has consistently faced one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, making job creation a critical priority for the current government. ActionSA uses the expanded unemployment rate—which includes discouraged job seekers—to measure progress on this front. We challenge the government to reduce this rate to below 30%, a benchmark last achieved in 2008 during South Africa’s most successful period of job creation. 

Data Source: StatsSA 

Rising food pricesimpact the most vulnerable parts of society the hardest.Usingthe metric ofannual inflation for food and non-alcoholic beverages allows usto assesswhether the government is prioritising the livelihoods of all South Africans.In line with the South African Reserve Bank (SARB)’s calls for reducing the country’s3%-6%inflation target,we believe thatfoodinflationshould not be higher than4%. 

DataSource:StatsSA  

Small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) are crucial for South Africa’s economic growth, as they drive job creation, stimulate innovation, and contribute significantly to the country’sgross domestic product (GDP).To measure government’s efforts to support small businesses, we use the number of small businesses supportedthrough loans from the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA), a key player in providing loans toSouth AfricanSMMEs. We will use as theminimum benchmark80,000 small businesses supported each year; the number achieved by SEFA in the 2023/24financial year. 

DataSource: SEFA annual reports 

By tracking how many cents of every Rand collected as tax revenue is paid as interest on outstanding debt,ActionSA canmonitor the government’s ability toborrow responsibly and invest wisely.To ensure that government funds are spent on crucial service delivery,and to bring South Africa in line with emerging market peers,ActionSA believes that debt service costs should not be more than 10 cents per Rand of revenue. 

DataSource: SARB, National Treasury 

Global competitiveness measures South Africa’s ability to provide a conducive environment for businesses to thrive, attractlocal and foreigninvestment, and foster innovation.TheInternational Institute for Management Development (IMD) assesses countries’ performance across key areas such as infrastructure, government efficiency, business dynamism, and labour market conditions.ActionSA maintains that South Africa shouldat the very least be the most competitive country in Africa, and ideally in the global top 50. 

Data Source: IMD 

Efficient ports are critical to trade, which directlyimpacts economic growth.The World Bank Global Container Port Performance Index measures the operational efficiency of container ports worldwide by evaluating factors such as the time vessels spend in ports and how quickly containers are processed.Tracking the performance of Cape Town and Durban harbours reflects how well the government is managing keylogistics infrastructure.ActionSA believes that South Africa’s ports should be at least the highest-ranking ones in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

Data Source: World Bank 

The volume of goods transported by freight rail is a critical metric for holding the government accountable for the performance of South Africa’s rail network. By tracking the total quantity of goods moved across the country, this measure reveals how effectively the government is managing and investing in the freight rail system. It underscores the system’s role in supporting economic activity, particularly in key sectors like mining, agriculture, and manufacturing.ActionSA believes that the daily freight rail payload benchmark should be 500,000 tons.

Data Source:StatsSA 

The electricitydistributed metric provides a clear measure ofEskom’s capacity to produce and supply power to meet national demand, evaluatingthe government’s effectiveness in reducingloadshedding and ensuring a reliable supply for households, businesses, and industries.Given thatSouth Africa’s total electricity demand is estimated to be around 200-220 terawatt-hours (TWh) annually, which translates to an average of 16.7-18.3 TWh per month,ActionSA believes thatmonthly electricity distributed should be at least 18TWh.  

Data Source:StatsSA

Access to proper sanitation is a basic human right and a critical aspect of human dignity.This metric measures the percentage of households with access to basic and safe sanitation, reflecting the government’s efforts to improvetheliving conditionsof the most vulnerableinsocietywhile promoting public health.It serves as a broader indicator of progress in reducing reliance on inadequate systems like bucket toilets and highlights improvements in infrastructure that uplift the dignity and well-being of underserved communities. The benchmark for this metric is 100%, in alignment with the NDP’s goal for universal access by 2030. 

Data Source:StatsSA 

The “real” matric pass rate tracks the percentage of learners who complete Grade 12 relative to the cohort that initially entered Grade 10. Unlike the official matric pass rate, which only reflects the learners who sit for and pass the exams, this metric offers a clearer view of education outcomes by factoring inthose whodropout. ActionSA’sbenchmark is a 75% completion rate, aligning withNDP education goals.  

Data Source: NSC Examination Reports, Basic Education School Realities Reports 

The student support metric tracks the number of students funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). This metric iscrucial forassessing the government’scommitment to expanding access to higher education,particularly for students from low-income backgrounds.ActionSA believes that NSFAS must support at least one million students each year to fulfil its mandate of promoting equity and opportunity. 

Data Source: NSFAS Annual reports

This metric tracks the number of murders committed daily, offering insight into the government’s performance in combating violent crime and the effectiveness of law enforcement measures aimed at reducing murder rates. Recognising thechallenge ofcombattingthis social ill,ActionSA challenges the government to commit to halving the murder rate by 2029, targeting less than 38 murders per day by that year. 

Data Source: SAPS 

This metric tracks reported sexual offences, including rape, per day. It is essential for evaluating efforts to address gender-based violence and improve safety for vulnerable populations.Recognising the challenge of combatting this social ill,ActionSA challenges the government to commit to halving the sexual offences rate by 2029, targeting less than75reported offencesper day by that year. 

Data Source: SAPS 

The unchecked movement of undocumented individuals across borders complicates effective service delivery, particularly in communities already struggling with inadequate infrastructure and high unemployment. This metric tracks the total annual cost of deporting undocumented foreign nationals and illegal immigrants. By investing in secure and efficient border management systems, the country can reduce the influx of undocumented individuals, thereby decreasing the cost of deportations. These savings can then be redirected toward initiatives that restore the dignity of South African citizens, such as improving access to housing, education, and healthcare services. 

Data Source: Parliamentary replies